Lawsuit triggers prayer dialogue

Tuesday

Mar 19, 2013 at 5:22 PM

Multiple governmental boards in Davidson County recite prayers during meetings, but most don't seem to appeal to a certain religion.

BY NASH DUNNThe Dispatch

Multiple governmental boards in Davidson County recite prayers during meetings, but most don't seem to appeal to a certain religion.Things are different to the southwest, where Christian prayers used by Rowan County commissioners didn't sit well with three citizens named in a complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union earlier this month. The ACLU's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte, demands the Rowan County Board of Commissioners stop the "unconstitutional" invocations that allegedly routinely call on Jesus Christ and refer to other sectarian beliefs.The Rowan commissioners responded to the lawsuit by opening a meeting in Christian prayer Monday and voting to seek legal defense against the lawsuit.At least three governmental boards in Davidson County routinely open meetings with an invocation, the Davidson County Board of Commissioners, Lexington City Council and Midway Town Council.Davidson County Commissioner Billy Joe Kepley, who has served on the board since 1990, said prayers are general."We don't give an alter call or sing hymns," Kepley said. "It's not church, and nobody is invited into the Christian religion."Kepley said he's not aware of any citizens being uncomfortable or upset with the invocations while he's been a part of the board. In fact, it's the contrary, he said."I've gotten personal letters and letters from different consultants that said that they appreciated the prayers," Kepley said.Last year, Forsyth County lost a case when the ACLU challenged that board's use of sectarian prayers to open meetings. The decision not only halted sectarian prayer at county board meetings, but also prompted Winston-Salem officials to change its city policy on invocations.Lexington City Council members have a rotating schedule for delivering invocations. While it's every council person's personal choice to say what he or she feels, most say a prayer, said Lexington Mayor Newell Clark."Most of our prayers invoke the Almighty and God, but most of the prayers are general in that sense," Clark said, adding that the city's legal department has done much research on the issue.Clark said many citizens have complimented the city on its consistent use of invocations to start meetings.The citizens named in the complaint filed against Rowan County say they want their government to be open and welcoming to people of all beliefs. They say they feel unwelcome and excluded when they start with invocations specific to one religion.The ACLU argues that the recent decision in Forsyth County made it clear that boards must use prayers that do not indicate a preference for one faith.Midway Mayor Norman Wilkes said he directs town council members to speak as they wish to start each meeting. Most decide to use Christian prayers, he said."I feel like at our meetings, our councilmen are at liberty to say what they want to say," Wilkes said, adding that the city has used the same protocol since being incorporated in 2006. "We've never had anyone at our meetings say anything about it."Denton has never held invocations during meetings, said mayor Scott Morris.In Thomasville, the recognized mayor tempore for each month has a choice whether to start the meeting in prayer, a moment of silence or neither. However, any invocation always takes place before the meeting is gaveled to order, said Thomasville Mayor Joe Bennett."We have had some folks in the city, who had some concern about prayer at a meeting of the nature of city council," Bennett said. "So, having dealt with it the way it is now — prior to — we haven't had anyone to come forward."Davidson County Schools and Lexington City Schools do not have invocations at board meetings; however, both boards hold moments of silence occasionally.Earlier this month, legal counsel with Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent a letter to the Stokes County Board of Education, asking school officials to remove prayer from meetings.Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com.